Byers figures have 'more holes than a sieve'

Former Tory Cabinet minister and former shadow transport secretary John Redwood said Mr Byers’ figures had ‘‘more holes that a sieve’’.

Mr Redwood, President of the Selsdon Group, a Conservative fringe group, called for a new Transport Secretary and a change of policy.

Speaking at the launch of the Selsdon Group’s pamphlet, Get A Move On - A vision of private money for public transport, the Tory MP said: ‘‘Britain is grinding to a halt.

‘‘Transport is now top of the agenda, but the more Stephen Byers does and says, the worse it gets.

Railtrack has been derailed by him.

‘‘The train operating companies find there is Byers on the line when they want to renew their franchises.

‘‘Stephen Byers is aiming for £56 billion of private capital over 10 years. He’s already way behind achieving this target with more holes in his figures than in a sieve.

‘‘We need a change of Secretary of State and a dramatic change of policy to rebuild the trust of the private sector.’’

The Selsdon Group’s proposals include:

:: re-establishing a private sector Railtrack, and offering ‘‘sensible’’ franchises to train companies, to get the private capital needed to expand and modernise the network

:: establishing the Londoner’s Tube, with free shares for all Londoners and commuters, offering air conditioning on all trains, park and ride at outlying tube stations and expanding total tube capacity

:: improving traffic management schemes

:: expanding the use of waterborne transport on inland waterways and for coastal shipping by offering tax incentives and expanding wharfage and jetties

:: offering tax incentives for those who replace their cars with more fuel efficient vehicles

:: raising £100 billion of private money.